The Ranger's Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan

The Ruins of Gorlan by, John Flanagan. ISBN-13: 978-0-14-240663-2

With the arrival of the Choosing Day, Will had to accept that his dreams of entering Battleschool would never come true. As disappointed as he was, Will couldn't help but realize that he didn't want to go to Battleschool for himself, but instead, to make his father proud. Will, who knew nothing of his father beyond that he was a hero, imagined that his father would have wanted him to be a brave knight. But Sir Rodney, who was head of Battleschool, would not have him, and Will was left with the dreary prospect of spending his life as a farmer. The mysterious Ranger Halt, handed the Baron a note regarding Will's future-- if only Will were able to see it. Will, who was adept at climbing walls and sneaking around, felt that he must break into the Baron's tower to learn what was on that paper.

So begins a night that will change Will's future forever. The next morning he will have a new path, with new challenges and discoveries. Readers will hang onto Will's adventures as he grows into a person that would have made his father proud. Filled with enormous wild boar, bear-like mind controlled Wargals, and the dreadful Kalkara-- evil beasts that will paralyze you with fear if you look into their eyes, the land of Araluen is a dangerous place for Will to accomplish his dreams. Though the plot is slow to reach a climax, Flanagan does an excellent job of providing a rich description of his characters and the types of lives they lead. Readers will be lured into this book that contains realistic characters who are going through the classic tween dramas of growing up. They will relate to Will wishing for his growth spurt or his feelings after a first kiss. Will is the type of hero that will make every parent proud; he is down-to-Earth, reliable, and courageous. Readers who have enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia by, C.S. Lewis will appreciate this new series.

Dear Dumb Diary: Never Underestimate Your Dumbness

Never Underestimate Your Dumbness by, Jim Benton. ISBN-13: 9780545242073

Dear Dumb Diary,
This book is important if you need to know a lot of dumb things. You can learn all about different ways to stand at a school dance, how to tilt your head when eating a taco, or where you cannot fart during a wedding. You can read all about Jamie's Aunt Carol marrying Assistant Principal Devon and find out everything you need to know about being a bridesmaid. It is also a good book for helping you to remember that when you think bad things about a person, sometimes you can be wrong. Other times, you can be very, very right!

This would be a good book to read except for the fact that by reading it you are breaking into somebody else's diary and reading it. But, if you were going to do that, well, just make sure you learn about all of the dumb things that happen in the book so that you don't have them happen to you! If you liked reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then you must already be the type of person who likes reading people's most private secrets and you would probably like reading my secrets as well. My secrets are very useful for girls in middle school who are trying to figure out how to get along with all the dumb people you have to talk to every day. It's funny and it has lots of little drawings that help you to understand the most important things inside this book. Some of the things in this book are so funny that you will have to read them out loud--and that is not a very nice thing to do with somebody else's diary. There are nine books in this series that you can read and three more that I will write as soon as you stop peeking over my shoulder.

Alcatraz Versus The Scrivener's Bones

Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones by, Brandon Sanderson. ISBN-13: 978-0-439-92553-2

This, the second book in the Alcatraz series, is written in a smarmy, smart-alecky, tone that makes you want to smack the book closed and then keep on reading. Alcatrez Smedry is an unlikely hero. In fact, he will be the first to tell you that he is NOT a hero. Like many heroes (we can decide later if he really is one or not) he has a special talent- Alcatraz Smedry can break things. He is one of the best at breaking things that the world has even known-- whether that be this world, the Hushlands, or the Free Kingdoms. Mind you, the world you know is not at all as you have been taught in school. There's actually nine continents, but the other two are being kept hidden from you from all of the evil librarians who are controlling the information and thereby controlling the world. Alcatraz writes his story so that you can finally know the truth about this-- and to prove that he really isn't a hero at all.

Still, somehow our unhero manages to break a giant glass dragon plane, tour the ancient Library of Alexandria, and escape from undead librarians with flaming eyes who will suck out your soul. There's also some bunnies with bazookas. It's just another book in the Alcatraz series written by Brandon Sanderson. These books are hilarious, high action, fast-paced, intelligent, and well-written. If the librarians knew he were writing these books about their underhanded plots at world domination, well, they'd probably still have to buy this fabulous series for their collection!

The Underland Series Book One: Gregor the Overlander

Gregor the Overlander by, Suzanne Collins ISBN-13: 978-0439435369

After Gregor's father mysterious disappearance, the family is devastated. Gregor's two-year-old sister, Boots, falls down a hole in the laundry room and Gregor has to follow after to try to save her. They end up in another world, called the Underland, and with the help of enormous talking roaches and bats they must face gigantic rats who want to take over the Underland. If they succeed, Gregor might be able to save, not only the Underland, but also his family.

The Jacket

The Jacket by, Andrew Clements. ISBN-13: 978-0689860102

While at school one day, Phil sees an African American boy, Daniel, wearing the jacket that his mother had bought him in Italy. He starts a fight with Daniel and while in the principal's office, Phil discovers that his mother had given the jacket to the woman who cleans their house-- which happens to be the Daniel's grandmother! This leads Phil to question whether he would have started that fight if Daniel had been white. An excellent book that helps readers examine their own racial biases.

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee by, Jerry Spinelli. ISBN-13: 978-0316809061

Orphan, Jeffrey Magee, runs to the small town of Two Mills, Pennsylvania and searches for his place in the world. His fast running, champion knot untying skills, ability to hit the fastest fastball, and rescue of a local child earn him notoriety. In this small town Maniac Magee, as he has been dubbed by the locals, learns about racism, belonging, and heroism.

The Spiderwick Chronlicles Book 1: The Field Guide

The Field Guide by, Tony DiTerlizzi. ISBN-13: 978-0689859366

After their father left the family, the Graces moves to the Spiderwick Estate-- a creepy and dilapidated old house that had once been home to their Aunt Lucinda. Mallory, who is thirteen, and her twin brothers, Jared and Simon are not very excited about the change from New York to this Victorian home in the middle of nowhere. Jared, who is thought to be the trouble-maker in the family because of one fight he got in at school after their dad left, hears a strange sound in the walls, and thinking it is a squirrel, he and his siblings set off to find it. What they find instead is a strange nest containing strung up cockroaches, army men with no hands and feet, a doll's head, and Mallory's silver fencing medal! This begins a set of adventures that will lead the children to a secret room with even greater mysteries than it's location.

This book begins the Spiderwick series, a fanciful and magical set of books that will lure readers into the world of fairies, boggarts, and more. DiTerlizzi uses the first book to introduce readers to the characters and their personalities, passions, and problems. He does so by creating characters that are easy to relate to-- these siblings have problems and they argue with each other, but they are there for each other in the end. It is a short book-- a quick read that is really just bait to get readers hooked on the series. DiTerlizzi is slow to come to the full action with this story, but the ending leaves readers hanging on the edge of their seats, ready for the real action to begin...This book will appeal to readers who enjoy the Land of Elyon series by, Patrick Carman.

If Your're Reading This It's Too Late

If You're Reading This It's Too Late by, Pseudonymous Bosch. ISBN-13: 978-0316113687

Max-Ernst and Cass are back in this exciting adventure involving a secret society, a 500 year old man who was born in a bottle, the evil pop-signing twin teen sensation of the Skelton Sisters, and a magical sound prism. Action and adventure blend with the author's insertion of quirky commentary and footnotes. A wonderful companion to the first book, The Name of this Book is Secret.

Deep Dark and Dangerous

Deep Dark and Dangerous by, Mary Downing Hahn. ISBN-13: 978-0618665457

Ali is excited when her aunt Dulcie invites her to spend the summer babysitting Emma, Ali's four year old cousin, at the lake house in Maine that Dulcie and Ali's mother used to visit as children. The girls meet Sissy, a cruel trouble-making friend with a dark secret. Ali must be careful, or the girls might not make it out alive.

The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord by, Cornelia Funke. ISBN-10: 0-439-40437-1

Orphans, Prosper and Bo escape to Venice and meet up with a street gang of kids who live in an abandoned movie theater. The kids are led by a boy named Scipio who calls himself the Thief Lord. A detective who loves disguises, an evil aunt and uncle, and a magical merry-go-round all play an important part in this enthralling book.

Fruits Basket: Book 16

Fruits Basket Book 16 by, Natsuki Takaya. ISBN-13:978-1-59816-024-6

One of the most popular shojo manga series worldwide, Fruits Basket is a series with an intricate web of characters with strong emotions and dark secrets. This, the sixteenth book in the series, is a bit hard to comprehend without reading the previous books. It begins with Kyo, who is remembering that he had actually known Tohru's mother, Kyoko. While Tohru is a heroine of the series, she plays a minor role in this episode. Kyo reveals that Tohru's mother was unwanted by her family and by middle school she was already heading down a dark path. She met Katsuya, a student teacher at her school, and fell for him. He decided to give up teaching, and the two fell in love. Her parents disowned her, he married her, they got pregnant, had Tohru, and a few years later Katsuya died. Readers of the Fruits Basket story will be excited to finally know Tohru's back story. The transition to the second half of the book is confusing and choppy. There are fifteen characters presented at the beginning of the book, but the majority of those in this story are not listed in the cast. The depictions of the characters change, making it even harder to follow. Jumping in at book sixteen is like flipping on your t.v. for the season finale of a soap opera you've never seen. The plot jumps all over the place and the characters and their decisions are inappropriate for younger readers. Fans of Kare Kano will appreciate the Fruits Basket series. If you are not a manga aficionado, however, this book is not the place to start.

The Midwife's Apprentice

The Midwife's Apprentice by, Karen Cushman. ISBN-13: 978-0064406307

This 1996 Newberry Medal story transports readers into medieval England to accompany our heroine, Alyce, as she grows into the person she was always meant to be. Alyce, a penniless girl who slept in dung heaps to stay warm, becomes apprentice to Jane Sharp, the only midwife around. Alyce deals with taunts and ridicule throughout the village, but ultimately the person she most needs to makes amends to is herself.

The Wizards of Waverly Place

Greenwald, T. (2010). The Wizards of Waverly Place. Hollywood: Disney Channel

This bilingual wizard family has a big problem. Justin has a pimple the size of a mountain-- and it's right in the middle of his forehead. His sister, Alex, tried to make it go away, but accidentally animated it and now this giant talking zit might destroy his chance to go to the junior prom with Miranda, the new goth girl at his school. The giant talking pimple convinces Justin that it would make a great wingman at the junior prom. The plan backfires, however, when the pimple decides to antagonize people at the prom and everybody thinks it's Justin talking.

The premise of the show is one that combines the desire for tweens to be transported to another reality, while at the same time providing material that is easy for them to relate to. Tweens already know how disastrous a giant pimple can be, but enjoy imagining that they could use magic to deal with the situation. The main characters are a family, which portrays a wealth of situations that viewers are familiar with. Selena Gomez, who plays the sister, is one of Disney's new tween sensations. From the very catchy theme song, to the classic tween humor, this is a relatively decent show. While there aren't any characters who provide strong role models for viewers, this is a good, clean show that does at least seem to steer viewers toward behaving in ways that they can be proud of.

Suddenly Supernatural Book One: School Spirit

Suddenly Supernatural: School Spirit by, Elizabeth Cody. ISBN-13: 978-0316066839

Seventh grade is a frightening experience for most kids, but for Kat, it's positively ghastly. Or, to be more accurate, it's positively ghostly. You see, on her thirteenth birthday Kat has begun to see spirits. All Kat wants is to be happy and normal-- to have people like Shoshanna Longbarrow and her satellite girls start to talk to her. Instead, the only people who seem to want to talk to her are dead! Luckily, Kat becomes friends with Jac, the new girl who is always dragging around her giant cello case. Jac reminds Kat that people are often more than they seem to be-- living or dead!. These two friends battle seventh grade dramatics and mayhem while solving a spooky mystery regarding a spirit trapped in their school's library.

The characters in this story are fabulous. Cody perfectly portrays the insecurities and frustrations of middle school through the eyes of a delightful girl who just wants to fit in-- a theme most tweens can relate to. Kat can't help but wish that her fabulous, incense burning, hippie, vegetarian, seance-holding medium mother could be just a little more normal. While Cody exaggerates the eccentricities of Kat's mother, she also clearly depicts her as the type of mom that any kid would be lucky to have-- providing readers with the message that normal isn't necessarily better. This story has the perfect mix of morality, mystery, magic, and middle-school mayhem. Kids who enjoy watching "The Wizards of Waverly Place" should turn off the tube and pick up this book! It's got a similar theme with characters who are less theatrical, easier to relate to, and better role models.

Tales of the Frog Princess Book 7: Dragon Kiss

Dragon Kiss by, E.D. Baker. ISBN-13: 978-1599903484

Audun has found the princess of his dreams and is ready for his happily ever after, but unfortunately life is not that easy. Audun is a dragon and while his dearly beloved can turn into a dragon, she's actually a human with magic powers. Dragons are supposed to mate with dragons, and humans are supposed to mate with humans. In an effort to win the right to woo Millie, Audun must embark on a quest that will bring him across dry, sandy deserts, verdant green mountains, crisp, arctic icy lands, and to the depths of the sea to face tasks that might determine the fate for all of these kingdoms.

This charming fairy tale is wonderful for so many reasons. Our lovestruck hero is wonderfully endearing dragon, who, due to a very human way of looking at the world, is a character who is easy for readers to relate to. He struggles with family, relationships, moral dilemmas, personal expectations, and does so while always holding himself to the highest standard of behavior. Although he is a dragon, he is the type of hero we want to see the world trying to emulate. (Minus the part about him breathing poison on his enemies, I guess...)

E.D. Baker has created a delightful fairy tale series for older readers. This, the seventh book in the Tales of a Frog Princess books, is as enchanting as the first-- and, most likely, the next one will be. Fans of the Inkheart series will undoubtedly enjoy Dragon Kiss.

The Divide

The Divide by, Elizabeth Kay. ISBN-13: 978-0439456968

As well as being our hero, thirteen-year-old Felix is a sickly character with a heart defect. While traveling with his parents in Costa Rica, Felix passes out and awakens in another world where mythical creatures roam the land. Felix teams up with Betony, a tangle child, to try to find a magical cure for his heart defect. The two will have to outsmart the evil Snakeweed if Felix ever hopes to return to Costa Rica alive.

The Land of Elyon Book One: The Dark Hills Divide

The Dark Hills Divide by, Patrick Carman. ISBN-13: 978-0439700931

Alexa Daley is desperate to escape the tall, stone walls that surround her kingdom. She finds a secret passageway that might just help her make that dream come true. She also discovers a magic stone that gives her the ability to talk to animals. This magical adventure is perfect for fans of the Spiderwick series.

Meet the Kreeps: There Goes the Neighborhood

There Goes the Neighborhood by, Kiki Thorpe. ISBN-13: 978-0545065597

Polly Winkler is searching for somebody to set up her father with because she is ready for a new mom. Although she is fascinated by the creepy family that moves into the old, haunted mansion across the street, she certainly didn't want her dad to fall for Veronica Kreep, who in undoubtedly the strangest women Polly has ever met. These new neighbors are about to make it a whole lot harder for Polly to ever feel normal! Readers who enjoy the My Sister the Vampire series will love these books!

A Single Shard

A Single Shard by, Linda Sue Park. ISBN-13: 978-0395978276

This 2002 Newberry Medal winner is a breathtaking story set in 12th-century Korea. Readers are transported to the village of Ch'ul'po where our orphan protagonist, Tree Ear, lives under a bridge with Crane-man, who has taken him in. Tree Ear accidentally breaks a piece of pottery created by the villages most famous craftsman, Min, and must work for Min to pay off his debt. Tree Ear becomes immersed in the world of pottery, and along the way grows into the type of person he was always meant to be.

Horns & Wrinkles

Horns & Wrinkles by, Joseph Helgerson. ISBN-13: 978-0618616794

Claire and her bully of a cousin, Duke, embark on an exciting adventure filled with river trolls and magic. Claire is trying to find a way to save Duke's parents, who have been turned to stone, while Duke is more concerned with pleasing and appeasing the river trolls. Oh, and he has a horn growing out of his face. This playful story, set along the banks of the Mississippi and loaded with magic, humor, and trolls, shows us that good and evil are not always as they seem.

The Dopple Ganger Chronicles Book One: The Great Escape

The Great Escape by, G.P. Taylor. ISBN-13: 978-1414319476

A unique cross between graphic novel and fictional text, this dark tale set in 20th century Britain is the first book of the Dopple Ganger Chronicles. Orphan twins, Saskia and Sadie Dopple, are extreme troublemakers who become separated when Saskia is sent to live with a wealthy woman named Muzz Elliot. Sadie and her friend Erik escape the orphanage and set off to find Saskia. All three children deal with loneliness and villains as they attempt to create their own destiny.

Fablehaven Book Four: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary

Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by, Brandon Mull. ISBN-13: 978-1416990284

Kendra is off to Wyrmroost, a deadly dragon sanctuary, in an attempt to hide a magic artifact before the Society of the Evening Star can find it. Her brother, Seth, hides inside a magic compartment of Kendra's backpack so that he can join in the adventures! This, the fourth book in the Fablehaven series, is as fast-paced and enjoyable as the first three.

Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now

Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now by, Lauren Child. ISBN-13: 978-0-7636-3935-8

Lauren Child, of Charlie and Lola fame, has written a new series of books with the same quirky humor that has brought her such notoriety. Clarice Bean is for those fans of Charlie and Lola who are now nearly, almost already grown up and needing to be reading much bigger books with chapters and headings. Child, as her name might suggest, speaks the language of children. The books she is writing are the Ramona Quimby books of the modern era.

In this delightful story Clarice Bean offers readers guidance that has been gleaned from her incessant reading of Ruby Redfort Survival Handbook and the Ruby Redfort Spy Guide. Clarice speaks frankly and directly to readers lending an amusing tone to the story, which is filled with Clarice's many worries. Along the way, Clarice talks about moving, divorce, new kids, bullies, family squabbles, acceptance, and friendship. This is most certainly an exceptionally fabulous story that will almost quite certainly help you feel very much better about all of the worries that might quite possibly be bothering you.

Amulet, Book One: The Stonekeeper

The Stonekeeper by, Kazu Kibuishi. ISBN-13: 978-0439846813

Murky earth tones lurk across glossy paper, in this dark and creepy graphic novel. After a tragic car accident in which her father was killed, Emily and her brother, Navin, move with their mother to an old house that was once inhabited by their Great-grandfather Silas. While cleaning the house, Emily discovers a magic amulet that speaks directly to her. Emily's mother gets swallowed by a giant tentacled monster who disappears into another world. Emily and Navin quickly follow after, and begin a quest to navigate this strange world in search of their mother. An air of suspense hangs over readers as they follow Emily and Navin on a journey that teaches them about survival, loss, and power. Emily is a strong and powerful heroine, but little development is given to her brother's character. The characters from the other world are intriguing, but many are just introduced, which makes one wonder what Kibuishi is leading up to. The book does not come to a nice, neat conclusion, but leaves readers hanging to see how things will progress for our young heroes. The artwork is full of depth and emotion, and it will be interesting to see how Kibuishi progresses as an author. Readers who enjoy The First Escape of the Dopple Ganger Chronicles, will also appreciate this unusual book.

Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy by, Christopher Paul Curtis. ISBN-13: 978-0385323062

This 2000 Newberry winner is the heartwarming story of Bud Caldwell, an African American orphan on the run in the midst of the great depression-- searching for the man he believes to be his father. This man, Herman E. Calloway, and his band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, may not be exactly what Bud was looking for, but they were what he was meant to find.

The City of Ember

The City of Ember by, Jeanne DuPrau. ISBN-13: 978-0375822735

Deep under the earth, exists a mysterious city named Ember. As far as the city's inhabitants know, they are the only life that exists. Unfortunately, things in their city are starting to fall apart. As the vasts storerooms for supplies become more and more empty, Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet begin to realize that Ember faces certain doom and that they might be the only two able to stop it.

Igraine the Brave

Igraine the Brave by, Cornelia Funke. ISBN-13: 978-0439903790

Igraine, born into a family of magicians, desperately wishes that she could become a brave and gallant knight. When her next door neighbor, the Baroness, has a visit from her nephew Osmund, Igraine might just get her wish. Osmund plans to steal the magic singing books from Igraine's family, and since her parents accidentally turned themselves into pigs, it will be up to Igraine to save the day!

Bella at Midnight

Bella at Midnight by, Diane Stanley. ISBN-13: 978-0060775735

This charming fairy tale will enchant readers from this kingdom to the next. Bella, who's mother died in childbirth, is sent off to be raised by a nursemaid in a nearby village. This nursemaid, who was also put in charge of nursing the youngest prince, is a kind sensible woman who raises Bella the best that she can. Bella and the prince, Julian, become the closest of friends whose lives are inexplicably intertwined together. This heartwarming story lures readers into considering notions of heroism, royalty, and friendship.

The Suite Life on Deck

O'Connell, P. (2008). The Suite Life on Deck. Disney Channel

Disney's The Sweet Life on Deck, a spin-off of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, is an overacted slapstick that takes place on a cruise liner. Bailey Pickett and Cody Martin may have broken up, but they sure haven't gotten over each other. Bailey's roommate, London Tipton, tries to cheer her up by taking Bailey to talk to their teacher, Miss Tutweiler, about break ups. Miss Tutweiler leads them to her room-- a pink frilly suite with dozens of cats crawling throughout. Cody, on the other hand, joins the Brotherhood of the Hooded Brothers monastery. Cody's brother, Zack and his roommate Woody Blend, go to the monastery to rescue him.

The main theme of the show, being the different ways girls and guys deal with break-ups, encourages viewers to behave in absurdly dramatic ways. The stereotype is that guys, after a break-up, should swear off girls. Girls, on the other hand, should eat ice cream, get mani-pedis, and dress cats up in frilly pink dresses. Neither character came to any real resolution, leading me to believe that this depressing break-up theme will last for a few more episodes. The characters are all complete stereotypes; there is the smart boy with the cool, trouble-making brother, the nerdy sidekick, the token African American boy, a farm girl, a rich girl, and a quirky teacher. This is an immensely popular show, and many tweens will be emulating the histrionics of the characters from The Suite Life on Deck.

This Book Is Not Good For You

This Book Is Not Good For You by, Pseudonymous Bosch. ISBN-13: 978-0316040860

The third book in the Secret series will not leave readers disappointed by this delicious treat! Our heroes, Cass, Max-Ernest, and Yo-Yogi continue upon their dangerous missions with the Terces Society to try to stop the evil Miss Mauvais and Dr. L. In this story they will face new dangers and mysteries as they explore ancient Aztec mysteries surrounding chocolate. Cass' mother gets secretly kidnapped and held hostage for a magic tuning fork that Cass was supposed to bring in to the Terces Society. Will Cass betray her friends to save her mother? What are the true powers behind this tuning fork?

This book is delicious-- and not just because it is about chocolate. The second book in the series might have lost a bit of the momentum of the first, but Pseudonymous Bosch has gotten right back on track with third. Yo-Yogi is an established and interesting character and Cass and Max-Ernst have become slightly less eccentric-- thus making it easier for kids to relate to them. This is accentuated by the fact that all three kids come from different types of families and thereby offer a range of family types to be emulated. The plot moves quickly, the action is fast-paced and funny, and the author's tone is delightfully unique. Like in the first two books, Bosch speaks directly to readers, explaining to them the grave danger that reading the book could put them in. Readers can enjoy a chocolate glossary at the end of the story.

The Cabinet of Wonders: The Kronos Chronicles Book 1

The Cabinet of Wonders by, Marie Rutkoski ISBN-13: 978-0374310264

This fabulous story, set in an alternate 16th century Bohemia, tells of a time when magic was possible. Mikhail Kronos is a metalworker with a special gift--his tin creations can come to life! After Mikhail was commissioned by the Prince of Bohemia to build an extraordinary clock tower, the prince steals Mikhail's eyes! Mikhail's daughter, Petra Kronos, sets off on a mission to find the Prince of Bohemia and steal back her father's eyes. So begins an epic adventure that will draw readers into The Kronos Chronicles.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by, Rodman Philbrick. ISBN-13:978-0-439-66818-7

Homer P. Figg is a big, fat liar. Okay, maybe he's not so big or fat, but he can lie better than a pig can stink. Homer sets off on a wild adventure shortly after his no-good uncle Squinton Leach sells Homer's older brother, Harold, to be conscripted into the Union Army. Set in the 1860's, this humorous look at the Civil War era touches upon heavy topics like slavery and war with a lightness that keeps the story appealing for readers. The shoeless, twelve year old protagonist sets off across the country on a quest to save Harold. Along the way, Philbrick pits Homer against a host of unsavory characters in order to introduce readers to the dirty truths of U.S. history. Readers can't help but consider slavery and the Underground Railroad, or the ugly realities of war, while anxiously awaiting the next big whopper that Homer P. Figg is going to dream up. Whether he is impersonating a pig boy for the travelling medicine show, hoodwinking a couple of professional hoodwinkers, or stealing a hot air balloon from the Union army, Homer P. Figg's exploits will entertain and delight readers in this 2010 Newberry Honor winning book.